Are You Prepared for a “Ruff” Time? How Pet Insurance Can Save You from Costly Emergencies
- On the Money Magazine
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Theo Garino, Latin School of Chicago, Sophomore, Spring 2025
Pets are more than just animals, they are part of the family. Pet ownership is more common than ever – 66% of U.S. households, or 86.9 million families, own a pet (American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey, 2025). Despite the staggering number of pet owners, only 4% of dogs and 1% of cats are insured in North America (NAPHIA State of the Industry Report, 2023).
So, why isn’t pet insurance more popular? Dr. Erica Esser, medical director and managing partner at West Loop Veterinary Care, reported a few reasons. Dr. Esser explained that a “lack of knowledge about pet insurance” is a major contributing factor, along with many people not understanding the extent of “modern veterinary care costs.” This leaves pet owners unprepared in the face of emergencies.
To combat this, Dr. Esser recommends pet insurance to her clients, saying it can help pet owners “plan for the unexpected” and access care they otherwise couldn’t afford, such as surgery or specialist visits.
Take dog owner Sarah Jamieson, for example. After adopting her three-year-old dog, Ralph, she had difficulty deciding whether to get insurance. As Ralph got older, she learned he was born with a rotated patella. The Jamiesons thought pet insurance was a good idea, but since Ralph’s condition was diagnosed before they applied, it was considered pre-existing and not covered. Even with reduced coverage, Mrs. Jamieson says pet insurance is still worth it. “We’re glad that we have it for whenever [Ralph] gets in more trouble or gets injured from now on,” she said. Mrs. Jamieson added that she “definitely regretted not getting it from the start.”
With vet bills climbing and pet emergencies striking without warning, pet insurance can be a great safety net, ensuring pet owners have the funds to care for their pets’ needs. On top of that, veterinary service costs rose 5.9% from March 2024 to March 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, 2025), making already expensive visits even more so. When it comes to pet health, it’s better to be safe than sorry, including getting pet insurance early to minimize the exclusion of pre-existing conditions.
Sources:
Statistics:
https://naphia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/NAPHIA-SOI2023-Report-Highlights_Public-May9.pdf
Interviewees:
Dr. Erica Esser, Medical Director & Managing Partner of West Loop Veterinary Care
Sarah Jamieson, Pet Owner
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